Vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner comprises a cleaner body having a suction force source and a dirt separator for separating dirt particles from air drawn in by the suction force, a dirt receptacle located under the dirt separator and removably mounted in the cleaner body, and a handle unit which a user holds to carry the vacuum cleaner. The handle unit prevents disconnection of the dirt separator and the dirt receptacle while in a carrying position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2005-29935, filed on Apr. 11, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

2. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of vacuum cleaners,and in certain exemplary embodiments, to a vacuum cleaner having adust-collecting apparatus removably disposed therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a dust-collecting apparatus separates dirt particles fromdrawn-in air and collects the dirt particles. For this, thedust-collecting apparatus comprises a dirt separator for separating dirtparticles and a dirt receptacle connected with the dirt separator forcollecting the separated dirt particles.

The dust-collecting apparatus is removably disposed in a vacuum cleanerto allow a user to empty the dirt receptacle easily. Examples of such adust-collecting apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent PublicationNo. 2003-180569 and Korean Paten Publication No. 10-2003-0038415. Inorder to empty the dirt receptacle, a user first draws out thedust-collecting apparatus from the vacuum cleaner, then disconnects thedirt receptacle from the dirt separator.

However, the two steps for emptying the dirt receptacle, i.e., drawingout the dust-collecting apparatus from the vacuum cleaner and thendisconnecting the dirt receptacle from the dirt separator, may causeinconvenience to a user. Also, a user applies force to disconnect thedirt receptacle from the dirt separator, and dirt particles may dropdown from the dirt receptacle due to excessive force. This maycontaminate the user's hands.

Meanwhile, the vacuum cleaner, which comprises the dust-collectingapparatus as described above, generally further comprises a handle for auser to carry the vacuum cleaner with ease. The handle is rotatablydisposed on a cleaner body, and a user holds the handle in an uprightposition to carry the vacuum cleaner.

However, if the dirt receptacle and the dirt separator are not firmlyconnected to each other, they are easily released from the connectiondue to swinging movement and shock when the user carries the vacuumcleaner. In that case, the dirt particles tend to drop down from thedirt receptacle and contaminate the surrounding environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the following summary and the detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to providefurther explanation of the invention as claimed. Neither the summary northe description that follows is intended to define or limit the scope ofthe invention to the particular features mentioned in the summary or inthe description.

In certain embodiments, the disclosed embodiments may solve one or moreof the above problems and/or disadvantages and may provide one or moreof the advantages described herein.

Accordingly, in some exemplary embodiments, a vacuum cleaner is providedfrom which a user is able to remove only the dirt receptacle if desired.

In further exemplary embodiments, a vacuum cleaner is capable ofmaintaining a firm connection between a dirt separator and a dirtreceptacle while being carried.

In an exemplary embodiment, the above aspects are achieved by providinga vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body having a suction force sourceand a dirt separator for separating dirt particles from air drawn in bythe suction force, a dirt receptacle located under the dirt separatorand removably mounted in the cleaner body, and a handle unit which auser holds to carry the vacuum cleaner, for preventing the dirtseparator and the dirt receptacle from being disconnected from eachother.

In exemplary embodiments, the handle unit may comprise a handle disposedon the cleaner body, a lever disposed on the dirt separator andcontacting one side of the handle, a lever connector disposed on thecleaner body, the lever being locked into and unlocked from the lever,and a second elastic member pressing the lever in a direction such thatthe lever is unlocked from the lever connector. In such embodiments, asa user holds handle in an upright position, the lever is locked into thelever connector, thereby preventing the dirt separator and the dirtreceptacle from being disconnected from each other.

In other exemplary embodiments, a vacuum cleaner comprises a cleanerbody, a dirt separator rotatably disposed in the cleaner body, a dirtreceptacle removably mounted in the cleaner body, and a handle unitwhich a user holds to carry the vacuum cleaner, for preventing the dirtseparator and the dirt receptacle from being disconnected from eachother.

In some embodiments the vacuum further comprises a locking unit forlocking or unlocking the dirt separator and the dirt receptacle.

In exemplary embodiments, the vacuum may further comprise a coverrotatably disposed on the cleaner body, and the dirt separator isconnected with the cover.

The locking unit may comprise a button disposed on a handle of the dirtreceptacle and having a hook formed thereon, a securing part disposed onthe dirt separator, the hook of the button being hooked in or releasedfrom the securing part, and a first elastic member pressing the buttonin a locking direction.

The securing part may comprise a support protrusion protruding from thedirt separator, and a hook connection portion formed at a lower portionof the support protrusion.

The handle unit may comprise a handle disposed on the cleaner body, alever disposed on the dirt separator and contacting one side of thehandle, a lever connector disposed on the cleaner body, the lever beinglocked into or unlocked from the lever connector, and a second elasticmember pressing the lever in a direction such that the lever is unlockedfrom the lever connector. As user holds the handle in an uprightposition, the lever is locked into the lever connector, therebypreventing the dirt separator and the dirt receptacle from beingdisconnected from each other.

The handle may comprise a holding part which a user holds, and a contactportion formed at a lower portion of the holding part. The contactportion may be guided along a guide recess formed in the dirt separatorto press the lever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, togetherwith the description, further serve to enable a person skilled in thepertinent art to make and use these embodiments and others that will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a locking unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the locking unit of FIG. 2 when a button ispressed;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a dirt separator after being unlocked from adirt receptacle with a handle lying down;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a handle unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a handle of FIG. 5 in a standing-up state; and

FIG. 7 is a enlarged view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A vacuum cleaner and improved features thereof will now be disclosed interms of several exemplary embodiments. This specification discloses oneor more embodiments that incorporate the features of this invention. Theembodiment(s) described, and references in the specification to “oneembodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicatethat the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature,structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarilyinclude the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover,such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic isdescribed in connection with an embodiment, persons skilled in the artmay effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection withother embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

In the following description, similar drawing reference numerals may beused for the same elements even in different drawings. The embodimentsdescribed, and their detailed construction and elements, are merelyprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention.Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out in avariety of ways, and does not require any of the specific featuresdescribed herein. Also, well-known functions or constructions are notdescribed in detail since they would obscure the invention withunnecessary detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner 10 according to one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention comprises a cleaner body 11, a cover13, a dirt separator 110, a dirt receptacle 120, a locking unit 200, anda handle unit 300.

A wheel 11 a is disposed at each side of the cleaner body 11, and asuction pipe 11 b connected to an extension pipe (not shown) is formedat a side of the cleaner body 11. The air-borne dirt particles are drawnin through the suction pipe 11 b by a suction force transmitted from asuction source (not shown) provided in the cleaner body 11 and guided tothe dirt separator 110.

The cleaner body 11 is provided with a dirt-collecting chamber S1 inwhich the dirt receptacle 120 is mounted. When the dirt receptacle 120is mounted in the dirt-collecting chamber S1, a lower portion of thedirt receptacle 120 is nested in sidewall 11 c of the dirt-collectingchamber S1 and thus the movement of the dirt receptacle 120 isrestricted. The cleaner body 11 has an insert recess 11 e defined on atop 11 d thereof such that a handle 310 is inserted into the insertrecess 11 e.

The cover 13 is pivotably disposed at the cleaner body 11. For this, thecover 13 is hinged to a hinge axis X of the cleaner body II and pivotson the hinge axis X at a predetermined angle in an arrowed direction Aor B.

The dirt separator 110 separates dirt particles from air that has beendrawn in by the suction force (not shown) through the suction pipe 11 b.The dirt separator 110 may use a single cyclone unit that has only onecyclone or multi-cyclone unit that has a plurality of cyclones, andalternatively, may use a plurality of filters to separate the dirtparticles. Since the inner parts of the dirt separator 110 do notconstitute a primary feature of the present invention, their detaileddescriptions will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the dirt separator 110 is removably mounted in the cover 13.Alternatively, the dirt separator 110 is rotatably attached to thecleaner body 11 without the cover 13. However, for convenience inmaintenance and repair, it is preferred that the dirt separator 110 isremovably mounted in the cover 13. The dirt separator 110 is rotatedabout the hinge axis X together with the cover 13 in the direction ofarrows A or B when the dirt separator 110 is unlocked from the dirtreceptacle 120. Since the bottom of the dirt-collecting chamber S1 isinclined toward the rear side of the cleaner body 11, the cover 13 andthe dirt separator 110 are more easily pivoted in the arrowed directionA or B.

The dirt receptacle 120 is connected with a lower side of the dirtseparator 110, for collecting the dirt particles that have beencentrifugally separated from the drawn-in air at the dirt separator 110.The dirt receptacle 120 is provided with a handle 121 that a user mayhold to empty the dirt receptacle 120.

Referring to FIG. 2, the locking unit 200 is to lock or unlock the dirtreceptacle 120 to or from the dirt separator 110. The locking unit 200comprises a button 210, a securing part 220 and a first elastic member230.

The button 210 is disposed on the handle 121 of the dirt receptacle 120and moves in the direction of arrows C or D. A guide protrusion 211 isformed on each side of the button 210, and recesses 121 a are formed oneach side of handle 121. The guide protrusions 211 are inserted into theguide recesses 121 a. A hook 213 is formed at an end of the button 210to be hooked into or released from the securing part 220.

The securing part 220 is formed at the dirt separator 110 to correspondto the hook 213. The securing part 220 comprises a support protrusion221 and a hook connecting portion 223 formed at a lower portion of thesupport protrusion 221 to be directly hooked by or released from thehook 213. The securing part 220 may be integrally formed with the dirtseparator 110 or individually fabricated and welded or adhered to thedirt separator 110.

The first elastic member 230 is disposed between the button 210 and thedirt receptacle 120 and is extended in the direction of arrow D, i.e., alocking direction, to press against button 210. An elastic memberinsertion protrusion 215 is formed on the button 210, and one end of thefirst elastic member 230 fits over the elastic member insertionprotrusion 215. In this embodiment, the first elastic member 230 is acoil spring. However, any desired configuration of the member may beselected if it is made of any elastic material, for example, rubber. Ifthe button 210 is not pressed in the direction of arrow C and supportedon the first elastic member 230, the button 210 stands in a lockingposition in which the hook 213 is hooked into the hook connectionportion 223 of the securing part 220 as shown in FIG. 2.

Hereinafter, the operation of the locking unit 200 having the aboveconstruction will be described with reference to FIG. 3. A user pressesthe button 210 in the arrowed direction C to release dirt receptacle 120(see FIG. 1) from the cleaner body 11 (see FIG. 1). At this time, thehook 213 is released from the hook connecting portion 223 of thesecuring part 220 so that the dirt separator 110 and the dirt receptacle120 are unlocked from each other. Referring to FIG. 4, the user pivotsthe dirt separator 110 on the hinge axis X in the arrowed direction A,withdraw the dirt receptacle 120 from the cleaner body 11 and thenempties the dirt receptacle 120.

Due to the presence of the locking unit 200, only the dirt receptacle120 is removed from the cleaner body 11. Accordingly, the operation ofemptying the dirt receptacle 120 becomes simplified. Also, a user is notrequired to apply a force to unlock the dirt separator 110 and the dirtreceptacle 120 from each other, and thus the dirt particles are lesslikely to drop down from the dirt receptacle 120, and are therebyprevented from contaminating the user's hands.

When the dirt separator 110 and the dirt receptacle 120 are unlockedfrom each other by the manipulation of the locking unit 200, they areprevented from being disconnected from each other by the handle 310 ofthe handle unit 300 held in an upright position as shown in FIG. 6. Inthis exemplary embodiment, the handle unit 300 comprises the handle 310,a lever 320, a lever engagement part 330, and a second elastic member340.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user holds the handle 310 to carry the vacuumcleaner 10. The handle 310 is formed on the cleaner body 11 and pivotsabout a handle axis Y of the cleaner body 11 in a direction indicated byarrows E or F. The handle 310 comprises a holding part 311 and a contactpart 312.

The user holds the holding part 311 in an upright position to carry thevacuum cleaner 10.

The contact part 312 is formed at a lower portion of the holding part311 and has a semicircular shape. The contact part 312 directly contactsan upper side 320 a (see FIG. 7) of the lever 320. The contact part 312is guided along a guide recess 11 f (see FIG. 7) of the cleaner body 11in the direction of arrows I or J.

A pair of levers 320 are rotatably disposed at opposite sides of thedirt separator 110. In this embodiment, lever 320 turns on a lever axisZ in an arrowed direction O or P. The lever axis Z penetrates throughthe cover 13 connected with the dirt separator 110.

A lever connector 330 is disposed on the cleaner body 11 and has a leverconnection hole 330 a (see FIG. 4) in which a lever end 320 b (see FIG.7) may be locked into, or unlocked from. The lever connector 330 may beintegrally formed with the cleaner body 11 or individually fabricatedand welded or otherwise adhered to the cleaner body 11.

The second elastic member 340 has one end connected to the lever 320 andthe other end connected to the cover 13. The second elastic member 340may be a coil spring. The second elastic member 340 always pulls thelever 320 in an arrowed direction G such that the lever end 320 b (seeFIG. 7) is locked into the lever connection hole 330 a (see FIG. 7).

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the operation of the handle unit300 having the above construction will be described in more detail.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a user holds the holding part 311 to carrythe vacuum cleaner 10 (see FIG. 1), and raises the handle 310 in theposition as shown in FIG. 5 such that the handle 310 stands up as shownin FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the contact part 312 presses the upperportion 320 a of the lever 320 in the arrowed direction I, andsimultaneously, the lever 320 turns on the lever axis Z in the arroweddirection O so that the lever end 320 b is locked into the leverconnection hole 330 a. Accordingly, even if the hook 213 (see FIG. 2)and the hook connection portion 223 (see FIG. 2) of the securing part220 are unlocked from each other because they are not firmly secured toeach other, the dirt separator 110 and the dirt receptacle can beprevented from being disconnected from each other by holding the handle310 in an upright position to fit the lever 320 between the leverconnection hole 330 a and the contact portion 312.

In order to perform cleaning operations, the handle 310 in the positionof FIG. 6 returns to the position shown in FIG. 5. At this time, thecontact portion 312 slides on the upper portion 320 a of the lever 320in the direction of arrow J.

At this time, the lever 320 turns on the lever axis Z by the secondelastic member 340 in the direction of arrow P so that the lever end 320b is unlocked from the lever connection recesses 330 a. Accordingly, thelever 320 is released from the locking state with the lever connectionhole 330 a, and thus it is possible disconnect the dirt separator 110and the dirt receptacle 120 by manipulating locking unit 200 (see FIG.1).

Even if the hook 213 (see FIG. 2) and the hook connection portion 223(see FIG. 2) are unlocked from each other while a user carries thecleaner 10, for example because they are not firmly secured to eachother, the dirt separator 110 and the dirt receptacle 120 can beprevented from being disconnected from each other by the manipulation ofthe handle unit 300.

The vacuum cleaners disclosed in certain exemplary embodiments may haveone or more of the following advantages, among others:

First, only the dirt receptacle 120 is drawn out from the cleaner body11 by unlocking the dirt separator 110 and the dirt receptacle 120 fromeach other. Accordingly, a user can more easily empty dirt receptacle120.

Second, since the user does not need to apply a force to unlock the dirtseparator 110 and the dirt receptacle 120 from each other, dirtparticles can be prevented from dropping down from the dirt receptacle120 and thus can be prevented from contaminating the user's hands.

Third, even if the dirt separator 110 and the dirt receptacle 120 arenot firmly secured to each other, they can be prevented from beingdisconnected from each other by the handle unit 300. Accordingly, when auser carries the vacuum cleaner 10, the dirt particles are preventedfrom dropping down from the dirt receptacle 120 and from contaminatingthe surrounding environment.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The descriptionof the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not tolimit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function, as well as allalternative structures that perform the same or similar functions.

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a suction forcesource and a dirt separator for separating dirt particles from air drawnin by the suction force; a dirt receptacle located under the dirtseparator and removably mounted in the cleaner body; and a handle unitwhich a user holds to carry the vacuum cleaner, for preventing the dirtseparator and the dirt receptacle from being disconnected from eachother.
 2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handleunit comprises: a handle disposed on the cleaner body; a lever disposedon the dirt separator and contacting one side of the handle; a leverconnector disposed on the cleaner body, the lever being locked into andunlocked from the lever; and a second elastic member pressing the leverin a direction such that the lever is unlocked from the lever connector,and wherein, as a user holds handle in an upright position, the lever islocked into the lever connector, thereby preventing the dirt separatorand the dirt receptacle from being disconnected from each other.
 3. Avacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body; a dirt separator rotatablydisposed in the cleaner body; a dirt receptacle removably mounted in thecleaner body, and a handle unit which a user holds to carry the vacuumcleaner, for preventing the dirt separator and the dirt receptacle frombeing disconnected from each other.
 4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed inclaim 3, further comprising a locking unit for locking or unlocking thedirt separator and the dirt receptacle.
 5. The vacuum cleaner as claimedin claim 4, further comprising a cover rotatably disposed on the cleanerbody, the dirt separator being connected with the cover.
 6. The vacuumcleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking unit comprises: abutton disposed on a handle of the dirt receptacle and having a hookformed thereon; a securing part disposed on the dirt separator, the hookof the button being hooked in or released from the securing part; and afirst elastic member pressing the button in a locking direction.
 7. Thevacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the securing partcomprises: a support protrusion protruding from the dirt separator; anda hook connecting portion formed at a lower portion of the supportprotrusion.
 8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein thehandle unit comprises: a handle disposed on the cleaner body; a leverdisposed on the dirt separator and contacting one side of the handle; alever connector disposed on the cleaner body, the lever being lockedinto or unlocked from the lever connector; and a second elastic memberpressing the lever in a direction such that the lever is unlocked fromthe lever connector, wherein as a user holds the handle in an uprightposition, the lever is locked into the lever connector, therebypreventing the dirt separator and the dirt receptacle from beingdisconnected from each other.
 9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim8, wherein the handle comprises: a holding part which a user holds; anda contact portion formed at a lower portion of the holding part.
 10. Thevacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the contact portion isguided along a guide recess formed in the dirt separator to press thelever.